comment

comment

n. a statement made by a judge or an attorney during a trial which is based on an alleged fact, but not a proven fact. Properly, if made in the presence of the jury, the jurors should be reminded it is not evidence, and it should not be considered, but how can a juror forget? The old adage: "a bell once rung, cannot be unrung," applies.

"PR DISASTERWhat message does Mr Abdullahi intend to convey by refusing to comment? Is it the same as given by "our independent sources"?In the story, "Sugar miller on the spot for polluting Lake Victoria waters", published on February 24, journalist Victor Raballa says: "Kibos Sugar chairman Raju Chanan could not be reached for comment as his phone calls and messages went unanswered."Is Mr Chanan unreachable, dodging the reporter, or is the journalist just plain lazy?

Some PR practitioners argue "no comment" is a public relations disaster.What concerns us here, though, is the need to make a story as objective as possible.

If a source declines to comment, the journalist includes in the story the "no comment" for what it's worth.

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